Westlake Medical Center gets a boost from the community

Friends, local businesses, and patients of the Westlake Medical Center recently raised more than $6,000 in a fundraising effort that included a dinner and silent auction.

Susan Kirkpatrick, Special to the Lake Sun

Friends, local businesses, and patients of the Westlake Medical Center recently raised more than $6,000 in a fundraising effort that included a dinner and silent auction.

The not-for-profit clinic, which is located in the Laurie Terrace Mall, is staffed by two physicians, two nurses, and two more staff members. It has its own x-ray equipment and small lab, and serves more than 4,000 patients on the west side of the lake. It is managed by a local board of directors headed by Jess Wadle of Laurie.

“It is wonderful how the community has come together to support Westlake Medical Center. Many of the clinic’s clients are elderly Medicare patients and there are also some Medicaid patients,” Wadle said. “Government payments to doctors for Medicare haven’t increased in over a decade, but salaries and clinic costs have gone up. That’s why fundraising events like this one and donations are so important — they help us pay everyone and cover the clinic overhead.”

The dinner attracted more than 100 clinic supporters. It was held at the Kent Memorial Lutheran Church dining room in Sunrise Beach and food was provided by the Roman Catholic Knights of Columbus Council 10381. In addition, close to 50 local businesses and individuals donated items for a silent auction.

One of the auction items included a hand-pieced quilt by Laurie resident Sue Purdon. A patch on the back was inscribed, “Lovingly made in support of my doctor Ken Derrington, MD, and the wonderfully dedicated staff of the Westlake Medical Center.”

Other items included certificates for local restaurants and businesses, artwork, household items, and lake- and boat-oriented items.

“We were delighted and humbled to see such an outpouring of support for our clinic,” says Kenneth Derrington, MD, Clinic Director.

The clinic’s doctors include Derrington, a family physician, and Ismael Aguilo, MD, an internist.

“This clinic is very important to me,” Wadle says. “I know I have a place to go just ten minutes away if something happens. I have the comfort of knowing that it’s there.”

The Center also has established a fund through the Community Foundation of the Lake where it is possible to make tax deductible donations of dollars or stock. Go to www.cfozarks.org and type in “Westlake Medical Center” under “Fund.”

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